Help me understand dining

[TheHannas]

TheHannas, since you sound like you would like a more elegant restaurant to go, I would recommend what are known as one of the "signature" restaurants. Every park has these nicer places in the area. You can google them to see what I mean about how they are a cut above most of the theme park eateries.

When you are in Magic Kingdom, I would suggest you try one of these: the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort, Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian Resort, or Citricos at the Grand Floridian Resort. All of these are just a complimentary monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom - just 5-10 minutes. There is even a path to walk to the Cali Grill at the Contemporary if you want to. You don't have to freshen up for these unless you really want to. However, the mild dress code just asks that guys wear a collared or polo shirt and "dress" shorts. In other words, don't wear t-shirt or graphic prints or tanks or jeans or bathing suit style shorts. And ladies, just dress nice in a semi-business casual sort of way as well.

At Epcot, there are many, many beautiful restaurants, even in the theme park area, amidst all the countries, however once again, the very finest establishments are the signatures which are just a stroll away at the Epcot Resorts. You can stroll on over when you're in the World Showcase, by the international gateway by France and walk to either the Boardwalk Resort and eat at The Flying Fish Cafe or the Yacht Club Resort and eat at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse.

At Hollywood Studios, you can actually eat at one of those Epcot restaurants, since they are only a quick boat ride away, or the one signature eatery they have, which is great, is The Hollywood Brown Derby.

At Animal Kingdom, you have the option of eating at the new signature that's in the park now, Tiffins, or head on the bus over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House, which is a very short ride, and eat at their signature - Jiko - The Cooking Place.

If you're ever not sure how to get back to your resort from these resort restaurants, you have a few options - for the Magic Kingdom area resort eateries, you can either take the monorail back to the Magic Kingdom (or walk if eating at the Contemporary), for Epcot resort eateries, you can either walk back over the international gateway the same way you came if it's not too late and the buses are still running, or if they won't let you because it's too late, you can always take a bus from the resort you're at to Disney Springs and from there you can take a bus back to your resort as Disney Springs is open extremely late like till 1AM and there are always resort buses that will take you there so you can then take a bus back to your resort. At Hollywood Studios, if you eat at the Brown Derby, you won't have a problem taking it's resort bus back since they never make a theme park reservation so late that you can't use bus service back to your resort. If eating at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at Jiko, if it's too late to get back to Animal Kingdom to take a bus, you can either take a bus to a different, still open theme park, like Magic Kingdom and take a resort bus from there, or once again, take a bus over to Disney Springs to get back to your resort.

There are many fine non-signature eateries as well that you can eat it. And those don't have any dress code at all. But I wanted you to at least know about the best eateries on property since you seemed interested.

Good Luck, and do Google them all for more info!

Very good info, Thanks for taking the time! I will look at these options when my wife is not snooping around wondering what I am doing lol

 

[JZCubed]

So we are going on our first Disney trip. Last min decision. I posted on the Welcome forum also, but figured i would ask a question here.
We are going to stay 4-5 nights. I am wondering do you leave the park you are in and go back to the resort to freshen up befor dinner or go as you are?
We are going to be looking for a nicer sit down dinner experience or show, any recommendations for first timers?
My current plan (after I learned not to wing it) is; Day 1 Magic Kingdom. Day 2 Animal Kingdom. Day 3 Hollywood. Day 4 Epcot. Day 5 (possibly) Disney Springs. What is one good place not to miss place at each for dinner options?
We are going to do a 4 day pass. We are going to do dinner option 2. Staying prob at All Star Movies.
Sorry if my question make no sense, I am VERY new to this.

Everyone posting has favorites.

Since this is your first trip, start with the few places you 'must do' and try to get anything at those places.

We always 'freshen up' and that impacts the choices we make for a given day. But rest assured, many people do not (and cannot) freshen up for a meal after a day in the Parks.

Magic Kingdom:
-- Be Our Guest for dinner - only place to meet The Beast.
-- There are Fireworks dessert parties.
-- Of all the things you do, the Magic Kingdom at night (for Castle Lighting & Fireworks) should be on your list.

Hollywood Studios:
-- Brown Derby is the Signature restaurant. Dining here, assuming you book the Package, can include 'free' tickets to Fantasmic!
-- But Sci-Fi is way too cool to not be considered.
-- There is a Star Wars Dessert Party.

Epcot:
-- Anything but Nine Dragons is my typical answer. Biergarten and many others are fun.

Animal Kingdom:
-- Tiffins offers a dining package for the River of Lights show.
-- Of all the things you do, a night in the soon-to-open Pandora should be on your list.

Disney Springs is not necessarily for 1st-time visitors - it's really just shopping and food. But Boathouse in the 'higher' end of pricing (i.e., steak & lobster), and Homecoming is the more casual (i.e., fried chicken & pulled pork). Raglan Road is also a crowd favorite for the lively ambiance.

Also keep in mind - if your touring strategy includes getting to the Parks when they open (a/k/a Rope Drop), dinner in the Parks can be a very long day. Honestly, there is so much to do, I am afraid of offering you information overload.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I would not suggest a lot of sit downs, since it's your 1st time and you have only one day at the park...EXCEPTIONS:
I would book a Rivers of Light package to save you time - this will be the most limited night show and saving time here will help you not waste a FP on it and get 1 for a Pandora ride instead (so you can ride the other Pandora ride Standby and then Expedition Everest single rider). Pick your favorite AK restaurant from the menus and enjoy.
I would book a nice sit down at Disney Springs for your down day. You'll have the time to enjoy it and not worry about missing park time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With only about 45 days until your trip, you need to book anything you can for dining. It may make you change your dining plan. If you are doing deluxe and this is your first trip (that what it sounded like), you are not going to have much time for the parks other than getting to one dining reservation, eating, and then heading to your next dining reservation.

For your time frame, other guests started booking their restaurants over 100 days ago. Plus you are looking at July 4th, so that makes the parks busier.

 

[KimBean]

Magic Kingdom - I would do both quick service to have the most time in park. I recommend Columbia Harbour house and Pecos Bill. IF you need to do TS The Plaza is nice atmosphere but won't crunch into your touring time.

Animal Kingdom QS flame tree BBQ. TS - Yak & Yeti.

Epcot. - Sunshine SEasons QS. Coral reef for TS. No show but beautiful fish to look at.

HS - any QS. Backlot has Star Wars food. Pizzerizzo for the muppets fans. TS - 50s prime time. If food doesn't appeal go to sci-fi.

None of these are fancy or will cut into your touring time.

 

[KimBean]

Scratch all that if you are doing Deluxe. Lol. What date is your first day and are you on the dining plan or deluxe?

 

[Figmentmommy]

Can you let us know exactly what dining plan you will have? Quick Service, Regular Disney Dining Plan, or Deluxe Dining Plan. This will help us to offer you suggestions.
On another point - I would suggest you take a look at the park hours before deciding which park to go to on which days. Then you can make your reservations according to which park you will be in or near. With 4 park days I would try to stay within the parks for your meals or maybe head to a nearby resort for a meal break one day if the park you're in has late hours so you can return.
Also - I have planned many last minute trips. They can be so much fun! Don't get discouraged if you don't see the reservations you want right away. With perseverance and lots of checking you can usually find what you're looking for. (with a few exceptions of course)

 

[TwoMisfits]

If changeable, I'd suggest no dining plan for your party. Enjoy the parks and the extra freedom you might need July 4th week. Keep to just 2-3 TS reservations...

 

[TheHannas]

All good info! We have the regular dining plan. it offers just 1 sit down table per night

 

[TheHannas]

I am quickly learning. I booked some fast passes today. Magic kingdom is going to be our first day (Sunday the 2nd of July). I did not book anything in the morning because I think we are going to be over loaded just taking stuff in. I do not want to try to rush in trying to get to some ride i have no clue how to do along with time restraints.

 

[TheHannas]

I did notice that there are extended hours on some parks which is cool. To be honest, with the fast pass deal, I had a hard time picking something that would interest us. Like epcot and animal kingdom, i may have had just one fast pass thing scheduled. I feel magic kingdom I could almost use 2 days?

 

[TheHannas]

Let get clear on this... If I do not use all my "table" credits and lets say I check out at 11am on the 6th of July. Could I go enjoy a meal at the Boat house place in Disney Springs using the remaining "credits"? Even after I had checked out? It shows that the place takes 2 per person.

 

[CrazyHare]

Yes, you can use those credits the day you checkout. They expire 11:59 pm the day of checkout. So you have all day to use them up.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

I did notice that there are extended hours on some parks which is cool. To be honest, with the fast pass deal, I had a hard time picking something that would interest us. Like epcot and animal kingdom, i may have had just one fast pass thing scheduled. I feel magic kingdom I could almost use 2 days?

Magic Kingdom can definitely be a 2 day park. If time doesn't permit you to see everything in the time you have then just look at it as a reason to come back. By all means take advantage of the extra magic hours and make sure you are in the parks for rope drop and I mean through security and the ticket readers at least 30 minutes before park officially opens, be it regular opening or extra magic hours opening.. For Epcot if Frozen is your thing then get a fastpass for that in the afternoon if you can and do either Soar'in ( I would do Soar'in)or Testtrack at rope drop and then dash over to the one you didn't do first. If Frozen isn't your cup of tea, then FP TestTrack and rop drop Soar'in.

As you are discovering, Disney World is not some place that you can just show to (well you can, but you'd miss tons), there is lots of planning involved to get things done. Look at the park maps online and start to make a game plan on how to handle the parks. Get your ADRs for dining ASAP. The biggest thing to remember is, it's a vacation and should be fun, if you can't get a dining ADR that you want or a FP that you want, don't stress about it, just go with the flow and remember all that you learned and started planning the next trip earlier. AND HAVE FUN!

 

[jsternad]

Magic Kingdom - My favorite TS is Liberty Tree Tavern (if you don't want a character meal). Delicious food, cute theme, super nice staff, loved it! If you want characters I love Crystal Palace!

Epcot - Le Cellier (OMG DELISH), Biergarten (though I've never eaten here, it's been on my list for years), Tutto Italia is very good, Chef's de France is great, Via Napoli has great pizza, one of my favorite character breakfasts is The Garden Grill. San angel Inn was fun and really good food (if you like Mexican).

Hollywood Studios - 50's Prime Time was fun for me. I saw a lot of decor my grandmothers had in their kitchens and my mom and I had a lot to chat about. Food was great. I don't really care for Sci-Fi, only because the seating is weird, you only get to talk to who you're sitting by, and I feel like you have to be quiet since there's movies playing. Food, as I remember, was just fine, but I like to talk while I eat.

AK- we don't ever eat at AK since it's only a half day park for us.

 

[TheHannas]

Thanks again for all of the replies! I am starting to grasp all this i think. I have one place booked (just playing around) the Tavern I think it was. I will prob book boat house the day we leave ( or try to) and we may just eat at the park the first day so we can get the most of Magic Kingdom on day i. That will let me save one of our table credit things for the last days lunch before driving back. I need to re do our fast passes since i seen some new recommendations from you guys. What happens to a fast pass if missed?

 

[TheHannas]

AK- we don't ever eat at AK since it's only a half day park for us.

Maybe i can try to book a nice meal this night to since we may not use a whole day as well? I think we will me more excited for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood than the others.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

Maybe i can try to book a nice meal this night to since we may not use a whole day as well? I think we will me more excited for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood than the others.

Don't forget Pandora with 2 new rides will be open by then and frankly, for us, AK is usually a day and a half park. There are Festival of the Lion King and the Finding Nemo show (if you can only see one, I highly recommend The Lion King) and now the new nighttime show. The safari ride, Exhibition Everest (best roller coaster on WDW property in my opinion), Kali river ride and Dinosaur rides and we also love primeval whirl. The train ride to Conservation Station is something that you might find interesting and that is probably an hour minimum. There is a bird show. There are 2 separate walks, one featuring tigers and the other with gorillas that are well worth your time and both each take 30-45 minutes minimum. The point I am making is that to do AK in less than at least a day means that you will be missing a lot. Don't sell this park short like so many others do.

If you miss a fastpass nothing happens, you just get to make another one if any are left. If you miss an ADR on the other hand, you will be charged , I think it is $10 for each person on the reservation.

 

[Juliet0778]

Maybe i can try to book a nice meal this night to since we may not use a whole day as well? I think we will me more excited for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood than the others.

I personally can spend way more time at AK than HS. I think it might change when the new lands open, but not now.

We usually do like to do a nicer meal in the evenings. We have a young kid and are usually done for the day after dinner anyway. So if we're at the parks, we go as we are, but I like to wear dresses most days anyway. This trip, we're doing two meals at our resort, so we'll be able to change for those.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Typically, I like to schedule our "main meal" as a late lunch/early dinner--like around 3 or 4. My favorites for each park:

Magic Kingdom: Be our Guest (I've only done breakfast and lunch here--in your shoes I might try to get an early dinner around 4 pm)
Epcot: Biergarten. It is a buffet, but since you are looking for entertainment you might enjoy this
Hollywood Studios: Brown Derby (will take 2 table service credits) with the Fantasmic! package. If you are not interested in seeing Fantasmic! I would choose Sci Fi.
Animal Kingdom: I have not been yet, but I plan to do the Tiffins/River of Light dining package on our trip in January. I have done the dinner packages for Fantasmic! several times and really think it is worth it to get the good seating.

Other favorites that are not in the parks:
Hoop de Doo Review dinner show at the Fort Wilderness campground--category 1 seating is worth it!
Raglan Road at Disney Springs--check the website to see when they will have dancers performing.